Hi Figments Friends! *waves*
I leave tomorrow at 6am for my trip to DL/DCA, it's my second trip there
I went last summer too.
Let's see.. DCA in general is.. well.. DCA. I went really wanting to like it, but ended up not very impressed with it. It is not Epcot by any stretch of the imagination.
It looks bigger on TV and in photos. The place is very small, especially compared to Epcot. If you can get your mind wrapped around the idea that the paradise pier lagoon is the size of one of Epcot's smaller ponds, then you have the perspective more appropriate in your head. I was really bummed when I walked over there and saw how little that area really is.
For food, I did Pizza Oo Mow Mow which is adjoining Burger Invasion. Nothin amazing, but it was edible. In general, food selection in California (both DL and DCA) was less then what we're used to at WDW. They sell pickles from the carts and churros are everywhere.
Oo, if you splurge goto Storytellers in the Grand Californian Hotel. I had a good lunch there one day of my last trip.
For rides.. You have to see Golden Dreams, because its just like DCA's thematic tribute to California. It's a bit ridiculous, and if you didn't think Californian were a little self-absorbed prior to it, you certainly will afterward. Really, it's a show for Californians by Californians that proclaims that California is the be all end all of the world. Plus, Whoopi Goldberg goes around sort of being an angel of death. "Oh look, there's Whoopi! They're gonna die" happens more then once.
Whoopi Goldberg, terrorizing Californians throughout history.
Real rides! The Monsters Inc attraction is cute. It's like a fantasyland dark ride, so don't expect anything uber-amazing. It's nice though. DL's fantasyland dark rides put the MK ones to shame though, so maybe it's more like a MK darkride.
Sun Wheel, meh. Good views I guess. Nothing in the pier was particularly grand. If you like coasters get a FP for Screamin, it got an "it was ok.." from my other half, who loves both coasters and SSE (almost obsessively).
Do the weird little things! The Tortilla factory was sorta dull, but it had food. The Sourdough Bread factory was much cooler, I kinda wish we had it, and it had free food too!
Aladdin was a nice show. I like Nemo the Musical and the old Hunchback show better, but it is a pretty good show. I rank it higher then Beauty and the Beast.
The animation building was neat. Wander through that, my favorite part was just the entrance room with all the screens. It was nifty.
Grizzly takes up a ton of the park. You spend most of your time walking around it. Ironicly though, you can't really see the bear's head from any good angle in the park *shrug*.
The parades there are neat. Try to catch one.
You'll probably find the music a little jarring. Not the standard Disney ambient music, but moreso lyric based songs and such. Sort of like a radio being left on.
The elephants at the entrance of Hollywood Pictures Backlot are flat out hideous. Avert your eyes and try not to look, they're like medusa, except you wont turn to stone but rather be baffled by how anyone could paint something in such hideous colors.
The area around Soarin is neat, but pretty small except for Soarin. Not much else to do there.
If you can find "Seasons of the Vine" I hear it's decent. I can't find it or anyone to turn it on - you apparently have to ask because it's so unpopular/unknown.
Bugs Land - cute, but the kid play areas are a complete waste. I recommend doing a quick scenic walkthrough, don't bother with the rides unless one really speaks to you (maybe the ferris-wheel type thing with chinese takeout boxes) and walk right back out.
Getting to DL for food or something from DCA is really easy. The space seperating the two parks is the size of Epcot's entry plaza. I stayed at the GCH and walked through DCA from the private entrance (by Grizzly) to get to DL most every day. Took less then 15 mins with security checks.
Have fun, but don't expect much from DCA.
I got assigned a room with the DCA view (free upgrade) and threw open my window screens to see the Pier and it was... underwhelming. It's just not a pretty park. It's trying too hard to be hip and trendy, though some areas have marked improvements.
I think the person who designed it was color blind. More ugly elephants then classic Disney style.
